Shield bonus, enhancement bonus + shield spell

[Bad Sintax]

Had some confusion at a session last night. A player has a +3 buckler, granting him a +1 shield bonus and a +3 enhancement bonus. He then drank a potion of Shield. Does the +4 shield bonus of the spell give the player 3 more to AC or nothing?

The two schools of thought were:

1. While the shield bonuses do not stack, the +4 of the shield spell would stack with the enhancment bonus of the buckler, since they are of a different type, giving the player 3 more to AC.

2. The enhancement bonus to the shield counts as a shield bonus, so the +4 shield bonus of the spell would not stack with the (effective) +4 shield bonus of the buckler, granting him nothing.

[RuyanVe]

Greetings, fellow traveller.

The shield gives +4 shield bonus to AC.
The spell gives +4 shield bonus to AC. Two bonusses of the same type do not stack.
Thus, the spell is of no use.

Ruyan.

[Ughbash]

Also shield is not a legal spell for a potion. It is a personal spell.

[El Cubano]

I wouldn't say NO use...it still provides resistance to Magic Missile and applies against incorporeal attacks as it is a force effect. But no, they don't stack

[cartmanbeck]

Both RuyanVe and Ughbash are correct. The spell and the shield are resolved separately, both ending up as shield bonuses, which don't stack, and that player could not have had a potion of shield (unless it was an Alchemist making an EXTRACT of shield, which is perfectly legal).

[Slacker2010]

The play only ends up with a +4 shield bonus. You number #2 is correct.

The enhancement bonus is to your shield. NOT to your AC, so it makes the buckler give a +4 shield bonus. Potion of shield, would give you a +4 SHIELD bonus. Since both are shield bonuses they dont stack.

[RuyanVe]

Slight derailment:
The magic item section on potions states:

Quote:

It can duplicate the effect of a spell of up to 3rd level that has a casting time of less than 1 minute and targets one or more creatures or objects.

Since you would count as a creature it's legit.

Ruyan.

[RuyanVe]

True, El Cubano. The added value is still there.

Ruyan.

[Grick]

RuyanVe wrote:

Slight derailment:

The magic item section on potions states:

Quote:

It can duplicate the effect of a spell of up to 3rd level that has a casting time of less than 1 minute and targets one or more creatures or objects.

Since you would count as a creature it's legit.

Ruyan.

Creating Potions: "Spells with a range of personal cannot be made into potions."

Shield: "Range personal"

[Bad Sintax]

It was an alchemist with the infusion discovery creating an extract of shield and giving it to another player. Sorry didn't mention that in the OP.